Week 15 fantasy players to watch
Players targeted for Week 15 have upside based on their matchups and recent play. If you've got to pin your playoff hopes to a flex play or injury replacement then go with the hot hand or the dynamic player. As always, a favorable matchup is preferred, so if you've got more than one, go with the matchup. For my liking, the best of the rest this week are Julio Jones, Felix Jones, Cedric Benson and, last but not least, Demaryius Thomas, whom I will personally roll the dice with because the Patriots pass defense is so pathetic my mom could throw for 300 yards on it. So God knows Tebow can.
As a bonus, if you're in a two-QB league and looking for a No. 2, I like T.J. Yates to have another strong showing against a friendly Carolina defense. So get him or any of the rest active, and get yourself to that Super Bowl.
Saturday
Dallas at Tampa Bay
Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys - Jones has perfect timing for anyone who clung to him in the hopes of some playoff luck falling their way. The Buccaneers have allowed 14 rushing scores during their 7-game losing skid and a boatload of yards. Count on Jones, who ran very well last week, for a big day.
Mike Williams, WR, Buccaneers - Did anyone else watch the Giants' receivers run free all over the field last Sunday night? Yeah I thought so. Sure Josh Freeman is a far cry from Eli Manning, but you know the Bucs will be forced to pass a ton since their defense couldn't stop a high school squad. Garbage points here I come!
Sunday
Carolina at Houston
Ben Tate, RB, Texans - Tate hits the hole and runs through arm tackles like a legit thoroughbred. With a league-best 5.6 yards per carry, he averages over a yard and half an attempt more than his star teammate Arian Foster. Don't trust the recent tough Carolina run D to slow Tate or the Texans down.
Owen Daniels, TE, Texans - If Andre Johnson is out, Daniels is the man for T.J. Yates. As he proved last week, the best friend of a young quarterback (other than a star like Johnson) is a reliable tight end to hit for checkdowns. And against a soft Carolina defense Daniels will continue to be Yates' best bud.
Washington at New York Giants
Santana Moss, WR, Redskins - Granted the competition they've faced has been of the elite nature, the Giants pass defense has allowed nine touchdown passes to wide receivers in it's last three games. This bodes well for Moss, the No. 1 target for Rex Grossman.
Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants - Until last week, the Skins had allowed a score or 100 total yards to a back in every game. Jacobs, who has four scores in the last three weeks, will re-start that streak for them.
Miami at Buffalo
Anthony Fasano, TE, Dolphins - Fasano scored twice on Buffalo just four weeks ago. And the following week Dustin Keller did the same. Last week it was Antonio Gates who went end zone dancing. Conclusion: the Bills can't cover the tight end. Start Fasano.
Steve Johnson, WR, Bills - With a score or 100 yards in his last three games, Johnson has finally back to producing like the surprise star he was last year. When the Dolphins come north don't be shocked when their cold corners can't stay with Johnson.
Seattle at Chicago
Golden Tate, WR, Seahawks - Tate has a score or at least 50 total yards in three straight weeks, and though he took a backseat to Doug Baldwin last week, his dynamic ability with the ball in his hands will be much needed against a stiffer Chicago defense. Expect Seattle to get him more involved.
Marion Barber, RB, Bears - Let's not overreact too much to the egregious errors from Barber at the end of the Denver loss. He realistically carried the Bears offense throughout that game to even put them in position to win, and they'll continue to need him this week. Keep him active because Chicago will too.
New Orleans at Minnesota
Darren Sproles, RB, Saints - This one requires little explanation. Sproles is averaging a whopping 6.8 yards per carry, and while his production has tapered off some recently, he is still a great source of total yards. Keep him active and hope for a score.
Lance Moore, WR, Saints - Really any Saints receiver would be worth a roll of the dice this week since the Vikings defensive backs couldn't cover a rock. Moore is second on the team in TD grabs to only Jimmy Graham and that number could go up against a Minnesota D that leads the league in pass scores allowed with 26.
Cincinnati at St. Louis
Andy Dalton, QB, Bengals - Dandy Andy has thrown for at least one score in 10 straight games and the past five have come against defenses all ranked in the top-5 in pass defense. The Rams defense should be a welcome sight for Dalton and anyone in need of a QB replacement with some upside.
Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals - The Rams are still dead last in rush yards allowed and give them up at 5.0 yards a clip. Benson should be in for a nice day since he's almost a sure bet for 20 carries.
Tennessee at Indianapolis
Damian Williams, WR, Titans - In eight out of the last 10 games Williams has posted a minimum of six points and versus a soft Indy defense he has a good chance to exceed that floor, especially with Nate Washington hampered by an ankle injury.
Donald Brown, RB, Colts - Brown scored in his last meeting with the Titans to begin a streak of five straight with at least 65 total yards or a score that ended last week against the bruising Baltimore D. Now he'll kick-start another streak versus the same average run defense the previous one started against.
Green Bay at Kansas City
Ryan Grant, RB, Packers - In their last six games the Chiefs' defense has allowed a whopping 868 rushing yards for nearly 145 a week. With James Starks likely to nurse his ankle injury on the bench, Grant could again bust loose, particularly when the Pack get a big early lead.
Jermichael Finley, TE, Packers - Finley has played his way into being a much-less-than-obvious start with his brutally up and down play that hit a low point last week with a one-target, zero-catch game. But against a Chiefs defense that's given up five scores to TE's in six weeks AND with no Greg Jennings, he's easily my don't-get-cute pick of the week.
Detroit at Oakland
Maurice Morris, RB, Lions - If the Packers, one of the league's worst rushing teams can rip through the Raiders sorry run defense, then why can't another of the terrible running teams pull the same feat? Morris should fare well with or without Kevin Smith's presence against an Oakland D giving up the most yards per carry (5.2) in the league.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Raiders - The Raiders will run to set up the pass. They'll lean on Michael Bush to slow down the game and then hit the suspect Lions corners with quick strikes and deep balls. That should pan out nicely for Heyward-Bey who is practically the last receiver standing for Oakland.
New England at Denver
Aaron Hernandez, TE, Patriots - Since his hot start Hernandez has been fairly quiet while fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski has exploded into a fantasy beast. That could even out a bit this week with the Broncos likely to do everything possible to slow Gronk. Look for Hernandez to have his best outing in weeks.
Demaryius Thomas, WR, Broncos - Thomas has seen 20 targets in his last two games and has turned those opportunities into 222 yards and three touchdowns. Facing the Patriots miserable pass defense, he could be just the type of calculated risk that puts your team in the Super Bowl.
New York Jets at Philadelphia
Santonio Holmes, WR, Jets - The Eagles have allowed a touchdown pass to a wide receiver in seven straight games, with 10 total in that span. Holmes has grabbed a score in the last three weeks. Something has to give this week, and my bet is it will be the Philly defense.
Brent Celek, TE, Eagles - With the Jets corners glued to the top receivers for Philly the man with the best chance of getting open will be Celek, who coincidentally leads the team in receptions while being second in targets. So although the Eagles will struggle to move the ball through the air, Celek will get his.
Cleveland at Arizona
Peyton Hillis, RB, Browns - With a tough road matchup against a suddenly strong Cardinals defense, the Browns could feed Hillis early and often to try and set a tone for the game and grind out an early lead.
Seneca Wallace, QB, Browns - If you're quarterback matchup is tough or you've been hit by QB injuries (i.e., you own Matt Schaub, Jay Cutler or Michael Vick), don't be scared to gamble on Wallace. Colt McCoy is still woozy from his concussion and likely won't play. That opens the door for Wallace who's thrown a score in 20-of-22 career games with at least 10 pass attempts.
Baltimore at San Diego
Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers - With his full assortment of receivers healthy and the run game picking up steam, Rivers is nearly back to his old form. And that version of Rivers can sling it on any defense, any time. The Ravens are about to find that out.
Mike Tolbert, RB, Chargers - Two words: Touchdown. Vulture. With the Chargers offense finally clicking, Tolbert should have his chance to score despite the tough defensive matchup.
Monday
Pittsburgh at San Francisco
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers - Bum ankle and bad matchup be damned. Big Ben will start and will excel. It's just what he does. The game is crucial to both sides and with the Steelers unable to run on San Fran, Roethlisberger will take to the air and use his speedy wideouts to pick up big yards.
Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers - Crabtree has racked up 333 yards on 24 catches in his last four games and will be looked at early and often in this smash-mouth matchup that will see very little rushing room for either team.
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